Category: Equip

5 Things We’re Taking Away from CMI

Posted on by Emily Belvery

The Concordia Mission Institute (CMI) is a yearly missions training conference jointly hosted by Mission of Christ Network and Lutheran Bible Translators. People thinking about future mission service, called Mission Explorers, are invited to join the week-long training as guests of MCN.

It’s a rich and full week of fellowship and learning! Looking at comments from this year’s Mission Explorers, they talked about:

Here are 5 takeaways from the week:

1. Community is key.

As the word cloud above shows, mission explorer responses were full of words like “love,” “community,” and “family.” Relationships are at the heart of what MCN does, not just as we share the Gospel on the mission field but as an organization relating to each other. Being able to gather each year from across the world is a tremendous gift and a unique privilege for MCN missionaries.

“I was overwhelmed by the hospitality, kindness, friendliness, and openness of the mission partners and specialists.” – Nancy

Mission work is a team sport, and encouraging and being supported by a Christ-focused community is imperative for going and returning well. 

“This is like a family reunion with people I never thought I knew.” – Matthew

Community is also key for discernment and decision making. When we interviewed a panel of MCN leadership during the conference about how they ended up in missions, a theme of their responses was that God put the right people in their path at the right time who gave good counsel and encouraged them in this direction. Mission Explorers felt the same.

“I feel as though God is giving me direction by the people that he sent my way to speak with.” – Stephen

2. “Don’t bother freaking out.”

Many mission explorers named the Missionary Panel as one of their favorite sessions of the conference, and perhaps no comment from this panel was as memorable as Naomi’s advice: “don’t bother freaking out!” After sharing honestly about how almost nothing she expected when she and her husband left Australia to do mission work in East Asia went the way she expected, she then reflected on how God has continued to provide for and direct them. Spoken not with glib indifference but with the confidence of one who has tested God’s promises and found them firm, Naomi repeated a couple of times, “Just don’t bother freaking out.” 

As director John Mehl likes to say, “Missions happens where we are out of control.” And while nothing about this lack of control is easy or comfortable, the power of God and the faithfulness of God never fail.

“This is a community that is human, and for humans, discussing the raw realities of missions abroad and local missions in all their rawness out of love.” – Rebecca

3. A devoted life isn’t primarily about doing.

    Monday’s Mission of God plenary from Dr. Leo Sanchez focused us on what it means to live a devoted life by the power of the Spirit. A key take away from this talk (perhaps especially important for service-oriented missionaries) was a reminder that “one can be Christ-like without being Christ-focused.” While being occupied with serving others is in many ways a Christ-like action, if this doing takes precedence over being in Jesus’s presence and focusing our worship on Him, we have lost the thread of what it means to be a Christ follower.

    The ancient reminder of “ora et labora” (pray and work) was a beautiful way to start the conference week, reminding us to put the Word before work. When we remember that the Mission is God’s and only He can create faith, then we are free to proclaim the Gospel and say with Martin Luther, “I did nothing; the Word did everything.”

    Describe CMI? “Truly transformative.” – Rebecca

    4. “One Great Thing” is a myth.

      Tuesday’s plenary session, led by Pastor Jeff Leininger touched on a number of characteristics of our plural vocations in life (based on his book Callings for Life). One of his first points addressed the myth of “the one great thing.” Reflecting on decades of campus ministry, he told the stories of students paralyzed by indecision when they looked toward graduation trying to discern the one great thing God wanted them to do – as well as the stories of older people looking back on their lives with regret, feeling they had missed the great thing they were made for.

      Instead, Pastor Jeff encouraged us to focus on the faces (the who), the places (the where), and the spaces (the what) all around us so we might live faithfully in the many roles and relationships God has given us today. 

      For a group of mission explorers trying to discern if God is calling them to cross-cultural ministry, this talk gave permission and freedom to make choices for the future and follow passions and interests without the pressure of feeling like global missions must be (or not be) the one thing they are created to do.

      “The opportunities to do mission work are varied. The option for differing locations and durations is appealing to many.” – David

      5. Missions here and there have a lot in common.

        Multiple times Mission Explorers remarked with a tone of surprise that much of what they were hearing and learning at CMI was applicable to life and ministry in the US, too. Building relationships and sharing the Gospel is at the heart of what it means to be Christ-followers no matter what place or culture we are living in. And we repeatedly told Mission Explorers that we want nothing more or less than for them to follow God’s lead and serve in His Mission wherever and however He calls. 

        At the same time, it is encouraging to know that serving as a cross-cultural missionary (while unique in its challenges and opportunities) is also in many ways an extension of Christian life in the US. One’s personality, hobbies and interests, and ways of building relationships are transferable to ministry in another culture. And in many ways the impact of these relationships can be multiplied by living in a place where few people know Jesus. 

        “Being encouraged by the stories and life experiences of both old and new friends at CMI has helped to remind me that God can truly use anyone to accomplish His will, and God isn’t done stretching us and guiding us to be the people He calls us to be.” – New Mission Partner, Katherine

        If you are interested in joining CMI as a mission explorer next summer (July 11-17, 2027) or know someone who might be, reach out to Emily and Kayla at recruiting@missionofchrist.org. We’d love to connect!

        Where Does Scripture Talk about Missions?

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        Matthew 28:19 (“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”) is likely the most famous mission verse in the Bible – although it’s only one of the Great Commission verses. (See Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8 for other iterations of this sending.)

        God’s Mission, however, started long before Jesus’s resurrection and ascension and is in fact one of the central threads of Scripture – a theme running from Genesis to Revelation. 

        God is on a mission to get His lost children back. 

        Perhaps the first word of Gospel in the Scriptures is Genesis 3:9, “But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” God was not confused; Adam and Eve had not hidden from His presence so fully that He couldn’t find them. 

        Rather, God was seeking out his disobedient children. Even though they had broken their relationship with him – trading honor for shame, innocence for guilt, peace for fear – yet He sought them out. This same God is still today seeking the lost – the foreigners, the exiles, those far away and without hope (Eph 2:12) – and calling them to Himself with a word of grace. “Where are you?”

        Mission comes from the Latin word for send (v. mittere or n. missio) and when we read Scripture with eyes open for this theme, we see on every page that God is a God of sending.

        God sent prophets, judges, and kings to His people. 

        • God told Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14
        • “And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.” 1 Samuel 12:11
        • “And Samuel said to Saul, ‘The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel,’” 1 Samuel 15:1

        God sent Christ to seek and to save the lost. 

        • “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
        • “And Jesus cried out and said, ‘Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.’” John 12:44-45

        God sent the Holy Spirit to His Church, to indwell believers and to teach, comfort, remind, bear witness, and empower them for mission.

        • “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26
        • “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Galatians 4:6

        And God sends the Church – every believer – to participate in His Mission.

        • “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’”  John 20:21
        • “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Luke 10:1-2 

        From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, God has been seeking the lost and sending people to participate in this mission with Him. God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), and he desires people of every nation, tribe, people, and language to come into the family of God by faith (Revelation 7:9).

        So what does all this mean for you? Today?

        1. From the Garden of Eden, God has been on a mission to bring people back to Himself. This is still his mission for you and for all the peoples of the world.
        2. Scripture is the story of this mission. Reading with an eye for mission throughout the Scriptures (not just after Jesus’s ascension) gives a more complete picture of who God is and what He is about. 
        3. You have a part in this mission. No matter who you are or what your gifts or career, you are one sent by God to bring people back to Himself. Ask Him to show you where and how He is sending you today (and in the future) and to give you courage to follow!
        4. As you go, know that you are sent as part of a long story of sending. You don’t go alone. Jesus is still on mission (Acts 1:1). God has sent you the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. And you are sent together with the Church – the cloud of witnesses that have gone before you and the saints who live now across the world.

        Encouraged & Prepared for the Journey

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        Every year in May, Mission of Christ Network hosts New Mission Partner Training (NMPT) – a weeklong training focused on equipping new mission partners and specialists for their time of service in the foreign mission field. Training topics range from ‘Barriers to the Gospel’ to ‘Culture Shock’ to ‘Insurance’ and everything in-between.  

        Hear from Mission Partners (L to R below) Katherine Moser (Taiwan); Seth & Kirstie Skogerboe (Central Europe) and Mission Partner Specialist Chris Schwanz (Africa) about their experience at NMPT:

        What’s one thing you learned at NMPT that you will take with you onto the field? 

        Katherine: One thing I learned while at NMPT is that the only certainty God desires in our lives is that we be certain of Him. It is a hope and an encouragement to know God is the one that creates faith in others, not us, and He continually directs our steps when we seek to do His will.  

        Seth: Considering the implications of honor/shame or fear/power paradigms for one’s understanding (and presentations) of the Gospel isn’t just helpful for relating to Christian brothers and sisters in other cultural contexts; it allows for crucial perspective on the full wealth of God’s gift to us in Jesus’ death for our life. We are not only innocent of our sins by Jesus’ blood—although we are that!—but freed from their eternal hold on us, and honored and glorified in Him. 

        Kirstie: Something that will stick with me from the sessions on partner care is the importance of building elements into a healthy routine now that we can translate onto the mission field later. While I think I’ve developed healthy rhythms of self- and family-care, I realized many of them are dependent on living where we do right now. I’ve already started adding in some new wellness routines that I am confident will make the transition with me! 

        Chris: The opportunity to break out of the worldview which I have been limited by and be opened to how incredibly large God is when seen through the worldview of another culture.

        What’s one way you feel more ready to enter the foreign mission field after NMPT?

        Katherine: One way I feel more ready to enter the foreign mission field after NMPT is having the reassurance that it is by God’s grace that we are privileged to take part in planting and watering seeds. We don’t always get to see the outcome, but that’s not the point. God simply asks us to be present with people, prayerfully and fervently seeking opportunities to intentionally proclaim the Gospel.

        Seth: All of the logistical work we did with our field lead figuring out financial details and discussing our psychological and interpersonal profiles was a huge relief to me. We trust God to lead us into and through the dark, but it’s so helpful to go into this trip with our eyes open!

        Kirstie: My greatest anxiety in going on the mission field has been leaving family and disrupting our own immediate family’s sense of stability. But one of John Mehl’s sessions, where he shared several deeply moving stories from his own family’s experience sharing Christ in Russia, re-contextualized my concerns in light of the immeasurable worth of knowing Christ and helping other people to know him. I have more courage now. 

        Chris: The time we spent together in God’s Word, prayer, and meditation affirmed what I have been feeling and thinking about taking the next step into cross-cultural Gospel proclamation. 

        What were you encouraged by at NMPT?

        Katherine: I was encouraged by the fact that God wants our hearts, not for us to just “go through the motions.” It’s as we go about our day-to-day lives that we are called to be His disciples, and God calls imperfect people to be His witnesses and to point others to Him. Thus, He asks us to simply trust Him and to always be ready to give a reason for why we have the hope that is in us.

        Seth: Knowing that the friends we made at this training will be praying and in the Word along with us as we serve in our respective fields was a real encouragement. 

        Kirstie: Primarily the staff members, who were not only interested in our commitment to missions, but in our life stories—not just in our evangelistic “success” but in our family’s health, stamina, and faithfulness to God’s calling—and not just in our comfort, but in our dependence on Christ and love for His mission. My husband and I were also profoundly encouraged by the stories of our fellow missionaries-in-training and how God has led each of them to their respective ministries. 

        Chris: For me it was the “who” I was encouraged by at NMPT. The collegiality of those who were new and not new was refreshing, inspiring, positive, and supportive. After spending the week together, I would partner with any one of them to wherever God would call us. 

        Mission Control

        Posted on by John Mehl

        “Being out of control is not something that most people embrace—apart from enjoying a few rides at the carnival. As we look at how God’s Church is engaged in His mission (His sending) we see that our desire to control is often a prominent feature of the activities that comprise church life. We want to be engaged in God’s mission, but on our terms . . .

        Control usually takes the form of the church turning inward. We look to programs that can be accomplished on the property. Worship services are carefully scripted and often with strict limits to ensure a timely beginning of the next event. We like to see a return on investment (ROI) and pulling control levers that produce an outcome we can point to. This is done best on one’s home turf and for those who already know Jesus.

        The church is about helping people have right relationships with God. This certainly happens in a church building, but it also needs to happen outside the walls. Church attendance cannot be the only goal . . .

        This reality of the world’s reaction to Christianity should not make us yearn for the “good old days” nor to circle the wagons around our churches. This is a time for the church to get off campus and engage as never before. The world needs a Christian people that serve it. It needs the love of God in all its forms. We live in an America where only 45 percent of the population attends church monthly or more and 40 percent of millennials have ticked the “none” box. When Jesus “saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). We pray for the Spirit to move us with the same compassion.

        In foreign, cross-cultural ministries, Christians are forced to let go of control. This isn’t simply because one goes to a foreign country and cannot figure out how to get the normal morning latte or how to make the internet work. The feeling of not being able to manage situations is often the result of not knowing the rules and underlying values of the host culture . . .

        If we want to make tight plans and pull control levers to fulfill tasks as planned, this is done best at home for those who already know Jesus. But God’s mission is more. He sends us into the awkward as we step over the church property line and engage the world on its terms. In the world we find God working His mission in amazing ways and we have the privilege of being His instruments to accomplish it.

        Luther says, ‘For whatever remains of your life, live as those sent by Christ. It is the office of everyone to instruct his neighbor, etc. And this power is given not to the clergy alone (though [here it is] spoken to the apostles) but to all believers. When you have performed this highest work, seek to become Christ’s apostle, to serve all people, so that they may come unto God as you have.’

        So, serve we shall . . . giving up control to be a part of God’s mission.”

        Read the full article by Rev. Dr. John Mehl in the May 2021 Lutheran Mission Matters.

        Connecting Your VBS and Missions

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        Vacation Bible School (VBS) is an enriching time to share with children about God, his love for his people throughout the Bible, and that same love that we experience today. Have you considered how your VBS might be an opportunity to further introduce children to God’s heart for the nations? 

        Our missionaries often travel back to the States during the summer months and VBS would be a great opportunity to invite a missionary to tell stories of sharing God’s love around the world. Often, our mission partners recall how hearing the stories of those who served before them was a pivotal seed planting moment in their desire to go and serve globally. How might hosting a missionary at your VBS be an opportunity to inspire and disciple tomorrow’s cross-cultural missionaries? 

        Other church VBS programs have connected with a missionary across distance: sharing video greetings from the missionary, learning about and praying for the ministry where the missionary serves, and even raising funds to support the missionary and their work. Kids love seeing their offerings go to help children just like them hear about Jesus for the first time!

        Reach out to Emily Belvery to get connected to a missionary!

        Additionally, we invite you to check out our kid-friendly resources which you can use to equip children to share the Gospel with those around them, learn about the global church, and support God’s mission through prayer. A few suggested resources to get you started:

        • What is a missionary?: In this video, mission partner Sarah Berta-Somogyi teaches young children about what it means to be an overseas missionary and the role we all have in telling others about Jesus. 
        • Missions-Themed Activities: Use these activities with kids to help them think about what God’s mission looks like and how they can be a part of it.
        • Kid’s Prayer Bookmarks: This printable resource includes a prayer request for each day of the week to keep children focused on praying for the global church and for God’s mission around the world.

        Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

        God of the nations, who said ‘let the little children come to me,’ we lift up churches, VBS leaders, and volunteers as they prepare to pour into young lives this summer. May you grant them the energy needed and the boldness to share your love with each kid who will participate. May children learn of your deep love for them, your Son Jesus, and how they can be a light to others right where you have them. Amen.

        10:02 Prayer Pause

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        Luke 10:2 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

        We can see that the harvest is plentiful. Each day around the world, people living in darkness see the light of Christ and come to faith! Our mission partners share the Gospel with an average of 2,000 people each week! And here around us in the US, too, people are asking questions, curious about faith in an age of anxiety and uncertainty.

        We can also see that the laborers are few. In many countries, MCN’s partner organizations are asking for more workers, and we estimate we could place 30 more mission partners in addition to the 50 we have in the field this school year. Here in the US, our churches and schools are facing vacancies and calling for more Gospel workers.

        So, what does Jesus tell us to do? He could command his disciples to give or to go or to recruit. (And all of these are good things!) But instead Jesus’s exhortation is to pray. God is the Lord of the harvest. Every person who comes to faith does so by His work, and every worker who goes out to share the Gospel does so by His call and in His power.

        Would you join us in praying at 10:02 each day for God to send out more workers for His harvest? Set an alarm and pray expectantly to God who is faithful to answer!

        What can you pray for?

        • Pray for more cross-cultural missionaries to go where few people know Jesus.
        • Pray for more pastors, teachers, DCE’s, and other church workers to serve our churches in the US.
        • Pray for every Christian (including you!) to have and take opportunities to share the Gospel today.
        • Pray for young children who will be missionaries in the future, that God would be equipping and preparing them for this call.
        • Pray for retirees to be willing to use their retirement years for sharing the Gospel both in the US and overseas.
        • Pray for people currently considering or applying for missionary service that God would give them clarity and support.

        How can you pray?

        • Are you a stay-at-home mom? Pray aloud with your kids each day.
        • Are you a classroom teacher? Take a moment out of your lesson to pray with your class.
        • Are you an office worker? Let your alarm go off, pray quietly, and see what conversations God might create through this daily practice.
        • Are you a church worker? Let a daily alarm remind you to pause from work and pray to the God who does all the work of His Church.
        • If you work in a place where an audible alarm isn’t an option, simply set a phone reminder and pray when you are able.

        God of the Harvest,

        Open our eyes to see the ripe harvest fields around us and throughout the world (Jn 4:35). Give us joyful expectation as we participate in your harvest, sharing the Gospel with those you’ve placed around us and trusting Your Spirit to work faith in those who don’t yet know You. Raise up more laborers to serve in the harvest fields of our country and to proclaim the Gospel across the world (Lk 10:2). Send out global missionaries to share the Good News of Jesus in places where there are few believers. And show each of us today what our role is in the Great Commission that we might together give, pray, send, or go so that people of all nations may hear and believe the Gospel.

        Amen!

        Lectio Divina: Scripture Reading for Formation

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        MCN supports our missionaries and staff in personal Bible study by using an organization-wide prayer and Scripture reading initiative. Board, staff, and mission partners all read the same chapter of Scripture over and over throughout the week using the Lectio Divina process. This way of reading Scripture encourages slowing down and allowing God to speak to us through His Word.

        In other words, Lectio Divina is a way to read Scripture for formation rather than just information.

        The Process MCN uses:

        • Begin by praying for the Spirit to lead you as you read. Jot down notes in a journal as you spend time with the Lord.
        • Lectio (Read): Read aloud the section of Scripture.
          • What words or phrases come up as a word from Jesus to me?
        • Meditatio (Meditate): Read aloud the section of Scripture again.
          • What in my life needs to hear this word from Jesus? 
        • Contemplatio (Contemplate): Read the section of Scripture aloud for a third time.
          • Is there an invitation from Jesus in this word to me? 
          • How does God’s Word affirm, challenge, or redirect my life/ministry? 
        • Oratio (Pray): Read the section of Scripture a final time and conclude in prayer. Include intercessory petitions as well as personal praise and thanksgiving.

        Additional Questions to Consider:

        • What strength or encouragement does this Word offer?
        • What message do I need to carry with me this day? 
        • What in this Word calls me to repent? 
        • How does this Word challenge me? 
        • What is this Word asking me to do or change in my life? 
        • How must I change my life in order to take this Word seriously and put it into practice?

        To begin 2026, MCN is reading through the book of Judges, one chapter per week. Why not join us?

        7 Ways to Connect Sunday School & Global Missions

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        When I talk with churches about growing their global missions connections, I often hear either 1) That sounds great, but we have a lot going on and a lot of need right here in our own community or 2) Why don’t you talk to our mission committee? That’s what they do.

        While there is truth in either response, the reality is that we do not have a God who places missions on the perimeter of His purposes but who from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 is all about mission, a God who is constantly on the move to seek and to save the lost from Adam and Eve hiding in the garden to each nation of the earth who will bring its riches into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24). 

        Satan would love for the church to fear scarcity of resources, time, people, or attention and so narrow in on one facet of ministry to the exclusion of all others. But the same God who gave the Great Commission has given His Church every resource she needs to fulfill it here, there, and everywhere by His power.

        In his book Is the Commission Still Great?, Steve Richardson writes,

        “Churches that have a missions focus are centrifuges for the gospel. They send people out and keep growing, changing the world near and far for the glory of God. Churches that have a vision beyond their immediate surroundings tend to also have vibrant local ministries. But not all churches that focus on their own communities also have a global vision.”

        And so MCN wants to help churches create a church culture of missions – not as an add on to all the busyness of the calendar but integrated into the church’s ministries so that a heart for Gospel proclamation and witness permeates everything we do as the Body of Christ from children’s education through retiree groups. 

        And what better place to start than with our children?

        Some seasons of the church year (Pentecost, we’re looking at you!) or Biblical stories (think, the call of Abraham or Jesus’s ascension) will lend themselves especially well to a missions focus, but any Scriptural lesson can be an opportunity to talk with kids about how being a follower of Jesus means being a Gospel proclaimer!

        Here are 7 practical ways to integrate a global missions focus into your church’s Sunday school and other children’s ministry:

        1. Have each class adopt a missionary.
          1. Several MCN partner churches have connected each of their children’s classes with a missionary on the field. Teachers can then very easily share monthly missionary newsletters with their class and pray at the start or end of class for this missionary and those they serve.
          2. Classes can connect with the missionary face-to-face (see #2) or encourage them in their service by sending cards or email notes of blessing.
          3. If a family has students in multiple classes, they then have multiple missionaries for their family to adopt in prayer.
        2. Zoom with a missionary or have them visit.
          1. Whether you have one missionary your church supports or one for each class, missionary visits can have a powerful impact on students. Many of our current missionaries recall listening to missionary presentations as a child and thinking, “I want to do that some day!”
          2. Zoom and other video platforms make it super easy to connect with a missionary on the field and let students “meet” them and hear about how God is working in another place and culture.
        3. Connect your class with a class of kids overseas.
          1. Many of MCN’s mission partners are in teaching roles through schools, churches, or after school programs and would be happy to connect their students with American students whether through an exchange of letters, emails, or video messages. 
          2. Let your students put a face to missions, connect with people across cultures, learn from global Christians, and participate in sharing their faith with kids on the other side of the world who don’t yet know Jesus.
        4. Take a missions offering.
          1. While financial support is never the primary goal of a Sunday School missions connection, it is meaningful to children to be able to participate in sending a missionary. 
          2. Whether you take a small offering in Sunday school opening, set a class goal to raise a certain amount, or find ways the missionary you support could be aided with item donations, children will remember the powerful feeling of making a difference and participating in God’s global mission.
        5. Use bilingual sing-a-long videos from missionaries.
          1. MCN’s collection of bilingual sing-a-long videos allows students to worship with kids and missionaries from around the world and get a taste of worship in another language.
          2. It’s powerful to be reminded that the church is much bigger than one congregation, state, country, or language group!
        6. Let kids experience aspects of life in another country.
          1. MCN has collections of crafts and games from various countries where our missionaries serve. You may also have an international grocery store nearby where you could buy snacks or drinks from another country for students to try (always a hit!).
          2. Whether you want to focus on one location or survey a few, this is a tangible way for students to interact with another culture and talk about the need for Gospel proclamation in that place.
        7. Pray, pray, pray!
          1. The most powerful way children (and adults!) can participate in the Great Commission is to pray. The Mission is God’s, each believer is God’s servant, and all the power to bring others to faith belongs to our God.
          2. MCN has numerous prayer resources for use in a classroom including missionary prayer cards (found on mission partner’s individual webpages), 5-day regional prayer guides (just search “prayer guide” to see them all), prayer bookmarks, and a monthly prayer calendar.

        Back in Steve Richardson’s powerful book, he reflects on watching his own children grow and says,

        “I wonder how we are conveying an eternal value system to the next generation. What greater gift can we give the children we love than the assurance that their lives are part of a grand, God-glorifying mission to bless the peoples of the world? What more could we hope for than to see them devote their lives to Great Commission service in whatever ways God opens up for them?”

        Let us know how we can help your church give this gift to your children – or share with us ways your church is doing this that others could learn from. We’d love to hear from you!

        Together in His Mission!

        Sing Along Video Resource

        Posted on by Emily Belvery

        All around the world, there are few things kids love more than music! Music connects our hearts with God in worship; crosses barriers of language, culture, and time period; and brings praise and glory to the God of every nation.

        This is why MCN has put together a playlist of bilingual praise videos, allowing you to sing along with kids and MCN mission partners around the world. Learn a little bit about different languages as you worship Jesus with both new and familiar songs. 

        Simple to use with subtitles included and fun for all ages, these videos are ideal for Sunday school classes, day school classrooms, chapels, and Vacation Bible School, too. With seven languages represented, there are a variety of choices. We would love to know which one is your favorite! 

        Bonus: We also have an interactive PowerPoint to help you learn more about each location and the mission partners and ministry happening there!

        Click to view this resource and more. 

        Sing Along:

        1. English and Mandarin (Taiwan): “Behold Our God,” “ Jesus Loves Me” 
        2. English and Khmer (Cambodia): “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” 
        3. English and Slovak (Slovakia): “You Have Been So Good to Me” 
        4. Spanish (Costa Rica): “ O Come to the Altar” 
        5. English and Hungarian (Hungary): “ Cornerstone,” “ Peace Like a River” 
        6. English and Tagalog (The Philippines): “This is the Day” 
        7. Bonus from Central Asia: “Mystery Song” 

        Sing Along Playlist on Youtube

        How Do I Tell Others About Jesus?

        Posted on by mcnadmin

        I know I believe in Christ, but how do I tell others? I’m not sure I have the words in English, much less another language! 

        We often worry about having the right words to convince others to believe in Jesus, but the Holy Spirit is the one who brings people to faith through law and Gospel. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). We are simply vessels whom the Holy Spirit uses to tell others about His salvation. This is why MCN’s tagline is Intentional Gospel Proclamation (not explanation). We can’t explain someone into faith, but we can proclaim the Word that God promises won’t return empty (Isaiah 55:11)!

        The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word as a means to bring people to faith. 

        John 20:31 says, “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” Spending time in the Bible will help build confidence in using its words to tell others about Christ. God’s Word speaks powerfully to all cultures, and you may even find yourself learning more about the Bible and seeing aspects of God’s character and work in the world in a new light as you read Scripture with people from a different language and culture.

        There is power in the stories of the Bible – even as read from a children’s Bible! 

        Much of the Bible is made up of narratives (not theological statements), and sharing these stories is powerful! (Did you know Luther’s Small Catechism is full of narrative suggestions for exploring each of the main points it teaches about?) Oftentimes children’s Bibles provide clear, easy Bible stories with pictures that are great for crossing language barriers and introducing the faith to those who are new to reading God’s Word. Lutheran Heritage Foundation even provides children’s Bibles in many of the languages where our Mission Partners serve!

        As the Apostle Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

        Share God’s Word and the Good News of salvation with freedom and joy knowing God is the one who creates and grows faith!